University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


SO 


SJ|ta  bonk  is  r? apf rtfttlig 

to 


One  of  nature's  noblemen,  a 
diamond  of  the  first  water,  with- 
out a  flaw,  whose  noble  and  un- 
selfish efforts  have  contributed  to 
the  success  of  his  fellowmen. 


DARKEY  DITTIES 


POEMS 


BY 


ELLIOTT  B.  HENDERSON 


AUTHOR  OF 

Plantation  Echoes 
Soliloquy  of  Satan 
Dis,  Dat  and  Tutter 
Jc8  Plain  Black  Fo'ks 
Uneducated  Fo'ks 
Humble  Fo'ks 
Darkey  Meditations 
Old  Fashioned  Black  Fo'ks 


COLUMBUS,  OHIO 
1915 


Plinkertee,  plinkertee 

Plinkertee  plunk! 

Time  foh  de  possum 

An'  de  coon  an'  de  skunk! 

Pickahninnies  rompin' 

'Bout  de  a-corn  tree, 

Bullfrog  says 

It's  mighty  good  here  to  be. 

Duck  says  to  gander 

"Take  o'  drink!    Take  o'  drink!" 

Gobbler  says  de  weddah's 

Rinkeedink !     Rinkedink ! 

Bluebird  hollers 

"Whah's  yo'  gwine?    Whah's  yo'  gwine? 

Jay  bird  says,  Nebbah  mine!  Nebbah  mine!" 

De  nights  sortah  frosty 
An'  de  moon  shines  pale, 
De  hound  smells  de  possum, 
An'  done  struck  de  trail. 
It's  high-ho  Johnny 
Let's  go  erlong  too ! 
We'll  roun'  up  Mistah  Possum 
Fo'  de  clock  strikes  two! 


Ah  Mistah  Possum, 
An'  Ah!  Mistah  Coon, 
It's  "high-diddee-diddle" 
We'll  have  yo'  poordy  soon ! 
De  pot's  on  er  bilein' 
An'  de  sweeter  tayters  plenty. 
Er  rinkeedinkee  'cepshun, 
Waitin'  foh  yo'  in  de  shanty. 


Shadows  drappin' 
Sof'ly  down, 
Moonlight  peekin'  thew, 
Birds  an*  bees 
Is  sleepin'  soun', 
Fo'kses  'bout,  is  few. 

Barnyard  rooster 
Heshed  his  mouf 
Gobbler  quit  his  spattin', 
Guinea  pig  an'  all  his  f  o'ks 
Doze'n  fas'  er  nappin' ! 

Yaller  dog 

Er  prowlin'  'roun' 

Howlin'  lonesome  lack. 

Possum  sneakin' 

Lack  he's  'fraid 

Hound  done  struck  his  track! 

Coon  er  tippin' 

Sortah  o'  so, 

'Pearin'  sort  o'  cunnin', 

Spies  er  darkey's  track  eroun', 

An'  takes  out  o'  runnin'! 


Soft,  soft  the  day 
From  earth  takes  flight, 
From  unknown  heights 
Slips  down  the  night, 
While  sweet  strains  float 
From  heavenly  choirs, 
Fond  holy  hands 
Light  up  the  stars. 

The  flowers  droop, 
Their  petals  close, 
Bird,  beast  and  man 
Seek  sweet  repose. 
Calm  and  serene 
All  Nature  sleeps, 
While  Heavenly  hosts 
Quiet  vigil  keep. 


8 


Left  {the  Fiddle  G©  Squneak 


Let  de  fiddle  go  squeak ! 
Let  de  fiddle  go  squawk! 
Balance  down  de  middle, 
Cullahd  f o'kses  quit  yoh  talk, 
While  dey  fixes  up  de  possum 
Fo'  to  serb  us  aftah  while, 
We'll  dance  Tom  Sawyer 
In  de  olj  fashion  style. 


Seems  er  fiddle's  got  charms 
To  make  de  ol'  f  o'ks  lack  de  young, 
JesJ  give  'way  to  dey  feelins 
Till  dey  jes'  git  all  unstrung, 
An'  de  fus  ting  yo'  know 
You  am  started  on  de  jump, 
An'  yo'  jes'  got  to  bobb 
An'  yo'  jes'  got  to  hump! 

Cullahd  f  o'kses  joice  yo'se'ves 
Shout  de  roof  plum  off  de  shanty ! 
Keep  eyes  on  de  white  f  o'ks 
Won't  yo'  uncle,  won't  yo'  auntie  ? 
Kaze  it's  pickee,  dillee  dillee. 
Not  er  cent  foh  yoh  hide, 
Ef  de  white  fo'ks  ketch  us  dressed  up 
Kickin'  up  diss  fuss  inside. 


Whose  dat  er  bobbin* 
Down  dis  way  in  de  crowd? 
Now  an'  den  er  steppin' 
Sortah  friskee,  sortah  proud! 
Ef  it  tain't  Deacon  Jones 
Ah  hain't  nebbah  eated  chicken ! 
Does  mah  eyes  deceive  me, 
Realty's  dat  de  deacon  kickin'? 

Ah  nebbah  knowed  er  fiddle, 
Fo'ks  could  do  so  much  befor'! 
To  make  er  pious  deacon 
Dance  er  jigg  erpon  de  flo'! 
It's  got  de  deacon  ac'in' 
Lack  he's  tickled  to  de  bone. 
Done  pawted  wid  his  'liggen 
Foh  er  happy  squeakin'  tone. 


10 


A  Clhairiige  off  Policy 


Ah  uster  have  de  idea 

Dat  hospertalertee 

Am  er  ting  to  love  an'  cherish, 

Foh  evah  one  yo'  see, 

To  eat,  drink  an'  be  merry 

Fum  Peter  down  to  Paul, 

Jes'  come  in  evahbody 

An'  he'p  yo'se'ves  to  all. 

Yo'  know  we  ol*  Verginians 
Am  noted  foh  sich  pranks. 
We  don't  do  it  to  show  off, 
Ner  do  sich  tings  foh  tanks. 
We  natchly  lacks  to  do  it 
An'  pow'ful  good  we  feel, 
To  have  er  friend  er  stranger 
Drap  in  an'  eat  er  meal. 

But  don't  yo'  know  Ah  long  since  f  o'ks, 

Changed  tactics  long  dat  line, 

Since  Eldah  Bowconstricter 

Eat  up  ah  geese  an'  swine, 

Kaze  de  way  he  stuffed  an'  eat 

He  knocked  de  wind  mos'  out  ob  me, 

An'  Ah  swo'  Ahs  thew  wid  diss  hyah  ting, 

Called  hospertallertee ! 


11 


De  way  we  come  to  ax  him 
To  eat  er  bite  er  so, 
He  happened  jes'  to  drap  in 
To  find  out  an'  to  know, 
De  reason  dat  we  fo'kses 
We  didn't  come  to  church, 
An'  kose  he  said  he's  saunt  out 
To  make  er  little  search. 

Well  we  axd  him  den  to  sot  down, 
An'  try  some  ob  ah  fare. 
But  didn't  have  no  idea, 
Dat  he'd  eat  more  den  his  share. 
But  when  he  said,  now  sistah 
Don't  bodder  tall  'bout  me 
Ah  doesn't  need  no  he'pin' 
'Twont  take  yo'  long  to  see. 

Yo'  bet  er  pewter  dollah 
It  didn't  take  us  long, 
To  find  out  dat  de  eldah 
On  eatin's  pow'ful  strong. 
Kaze  de  way  he  fell  to  eatin', 
Was  lack  er  thrash  merchine, 
Er  crunchin'  an*  er  crushin'. 
Er  way  dat's  seldom  seen. 

He  reached  out  for  de  chicken 
An'  clahd  his  tho'at  er  spell, 
An'  said  now  fo'ks  mah  eatin' 
Will  be  somewhut  "pell  mell" ! 


12 


Ez  fas'  ez  yo'  can  fetch  it 
Ah'll  'stroy  it  fas'  ez  sin, 
Yo'  needn't  wait  er  secun, 
But  keep  er  tote'n  it  in. 

Ah's  hyahd  so  much  talk  sistah, 
'Bout  yoh  cookin'  being  so  fine, 
Dat  Ah  said  Ah  hoped  de  pribbledge, 
Would  one  deez  days  be  mine, 
Ob  drappin'  in  pertookin' 
Ob  er  HT  bite  er  so, 
To  tell  de  f o'ks  erbout  it, 
An'  praise  yo'  whah  Ah  go. 

Jes'  one  mo'  piece  of  chicken, 
Mah  sistah  dat  will  do ! 
Ernuddah  tace  ob  sausage, 
Six  biscuits  an'  Ah's  thew! 
Diss  stuff  Ah's  eat  diss  mawnin' 
Done  reached  de  deepes'  spot! 
Ef  Ah  had  jes'  one  mo'  stummick, 
Gawd  knows,  Ahd  clean  de  pot ! 

Well  when  de  eldah  slowed  up, 
An'  said  well  f  o'ks  Ah's  thew ! 
Ah  cried,  "Well  wife  an'  famly, 
Dey  hain't  much  lef '  f  oh  yo' ! 
De  eldah  said,  "Well  bruddah, 
Don't  worry  'bout  dat  tall. 
De  way  yo'  fed  me  freely, 
De  Lawd  will  bress  yo'  all ! 


13 


I  sometimes  think 

While  ponderin'  over  things 

That  the  darky's  'bout  ez  happy's 

Tho  he  had  a  pair  wings. 

Jes'  er  flippin'  an*  er  floppin' 

An'  er  swoupin'  through  the  air 

Without  an'  ounce  of  trouble, 

And  without  a  pound  of  care. 

Trouble,  trouble,  trouble 

Like  a  cyclone,  come 

But  with  all  it  doesn't  seem  to  make 

Him  feel  a  bit  glum. 

He  jes'  dances  and  sings 

And  goes  twiddle,  twiddle,  twiddle 

Jes'  the  mention  of  a  banjo 

Or  the  squeak  of  a  fiddle. 

If  he  lives  in  a  shanty 
Not  a  nickel  in  his  purse, 
He  just  goes  to  singing', 
"Well  things  could  be  worse!" 
And  smacks  his  lips  as  thankful, 
Ton  the  leavings  in  the  pot 
Just  as  tho  he's  been  a  feastin' 
On  the  best  a  king's  got. 


14 


It  is  kinder  curious 
After  all  don't  you  think, 
How  the  darky  seems  glad, 
In  spite  of  trouble  never  shrinks ! 
Well  it  may  be  the  Lord 
Had  a  notion,  thought  it  best, 
To  give  him  plenty  gladness 
To  make  his  troubles  seem  less. 

You  talk  about  Heaven, 
What  a  hokee-pokee  time, 
That  the  darky's  going  to  have 
When  he  get's  where  it's  sublime, 
But  the  darky  isn't  waitin', 
To  go  to  Heaven  for  his  fun, 
But  he's  havin'  barrels  o'  joy 
Before  his  earthly  work's  done! 

It's  a  pretty  good  philosophy, 
I  guess  after  all, 
To  laugh  and  dance  and  frolic 
When  life  seems  bitter  gall. 
For  it  lightens  many  burden, 
And  drives  'way  many  trouble, 
When  a  happy  go-lucky  feeling 
In  your  soul  keeps  o'  bubble! 

I  bet  there's  not  a  nation 
On  God's  green  earth, 
Regardless  of  its  surroundings 
And  regardless  of  its  worth, 


15 


That  can  get  out  of  life, 
The  sweetness  to  the  core, 
That  the  darky  is  o'  getting, 
'Though  he's  poorest  of  the  poor. 

White  fo'ks  have  been  o'  trying  hard 

To  figger  out  the  thing, 

How  the  darky  with  all  his  trouble 

Still  can  pat  his  foot  and  sing, 

Go  jogging  'long  the  road 

With  a  load  upon  his  back, 

And  can  slute  you  jolly,  "high  boss !" 

And  can  plenty  jokes  crack. 

But  they're  just  killing  time, 
It's  a  riddle  they  can't  guess, 
For  the  more  they  try  to  figger  it, 
They'll  know  but  less  and  less. 
So  the  only  thing  to  do, 
Is  to  take  this  fact  for  granted, 
That  the  seed  of  genuine  joy's 
Only  in  the  negro  planted. 


16 


A  PlanaftaftJoim  ^Sfep-eiflborf 


De  fiddles  am  er  squeakin' 
An'  de  banjo  sounds  fine! 
Ol'  fo'ks  drapped  dey  crutches 
Am  er  hoppin'  into  line. 
An'  de  pranks  an'  de  capeahs 
Dey's  er  cuttin'  roun'  erbout, 
You'd  nebbah  'spect  dey's  bodderd 
Wid  de  'matticks  er  de  gout ! 


Who'd  ebber  thunk  it  once, 

Dat  ol*  man  Jimpson  Crown, 

Could  ebber  tink  ob  gittin' 

'Roun'  so  peert  erpon  de  groun'? 

Er  creepin'  lack  er  snail  he's  been, 

Since  way  back  sixty  one, 

He  out  jumps  ol'  man  Hopp-Toad,  now 

An'  tickled  wid  de  fun. 


Come  Susan,  hoi'  mah  duster! 
Dis  ol'  man  mus'  dance,  too ! 
Dat  debblish  music's  tickled  me, 
Till  dares  nuffin'  else  to  do. 
Ah  know  yo'  tink  it's  foolish 
Foh  er  man  ez  ol'  ez  me, 
To  do  tricks  lack  de  young  fo'ks, 
But  ol'  woman  jes'  watch  me! 

17 


Hoi'  on,  Uncle  Jasper, 
Yo'  hain't  ha'f  so  peert  ez  me ! 
Youse  too  slo'  in  bofe  yoh  footses 
Wid  too  much  crook  in  de  knee. 
Koch  er  hoi'  mah  coat  tail,  sah ! 
Now  dance  it  up  an'  down ! 
Let  loose  mah  coat  tail  uncle, 
Youse  too  slo'  f  oh  diss  hyah  'roun' ! 

Come  on  Tootsy  Rookey, 
Let  'em  see  whut  yo'  can  do! 
Koch  hoi'  de  ol'  man's  duster 
An'  we'll  swing  it  'to  an'  to*. 
Youse  sholy  flouncin'  Tootsy 
Jes'  keep  erlong  wid  me, 
We'll  safely  reach  de  harbor 
In  de  sweet,  bee-an'-bee ! 

Yoh  beau  am  gittin'  jealous 
But  don't  pay  no  mine  to  dat! 
Kaze  youse  mah  dimple-derry, 
An'  Ah  kyeers  ner  titt,  ner  tatt ! 
Keep  er  plinkin'  at  de  banjo, 
Let  de  fiddles  whine  an'  cry, 
Kaze  Ahs  happy  ez  er  jay  bird, 
Stealin'  crackers  on  de  sly. 

Now  slute  yoh  partners  Tootsy, 
Time  to  balance  down  de  middle. 
Swing  it  little  mo', 
We'll  go  twiddle,  twiddle,  twiddle ! 


18 


Ahs  jes'  gittin'  in  de  spirit, 
An'  de  capeahs  dat  we's  done, 
Hain't  nuffin'  dat  we'll  show  'em, 
'Fo'  we's  ha'f  thew  diss  fun. 

Possum,  sweet  pertayters. 
Yo'  say  am  in  de  kitchen? 
Come  on  Tootsy  Rookey, 
It's  time  to  quit  diss  switchin' ! 


19 


I  some  times  think 

That  in  this  old  world  of  strife 
That  the  Negro,  alone, 

Gets  real  sweetness  out  of  life, 
For  the  simple  good  reason, 

That  with  just  a  little  bit, 
He's  always  in  good  spirits 

And  a  bustin'  out  with  wit ! 

Why,  he'll  dance  and  sing 

If  he  hasn't  got  a  cent 
To  pay  for  his  "britches," 

Or  to  pay  for  the  rent. 
While  the  white  man's  a-worrying 

Because  he's  got  no  more, 
The  Negro  is  rejoicing — singing — 

"All's  Honkeedore!" 


He's  happy-go-lucky 

If  it  rains  or  it  shines; 
If  otherwise  in  spirit 

Why  he  doesn't  show  no  sign. 
If  compelled  to  feast  on  "middlins" 

Instead  of  eating  chicken 
He  licks  his  chops  contented, 

Goes  on  eating  without  kicking. 


20 


The  lightning  can  flash, 

And  the  thunder  can  roar, 
And  the  winds  raise  the  mischief, 

Threaten  to  break  in  the  door ; 
But  he'll  just  cross  his  legs 

And  sit  back  'side  the  wall 
As  though  he  isn't  bothered 

As  to  what  come  at  all ! 

That  the  Negro's  constituted 

Peculiarly,  why,  there's  no  doubt — 
Under  the  most  discouraging  features 

He  will  sing,  rejoice  and  shout! 
It  seems  he  has  the  knack 

To  make  trouble  tuck  his  tail  and  run, 
And  look  on  in  a  jolly  mood 

And  seem  to  e'joy  the  fun. 

When  he  gets  muddled, 

Or  when  he  gets  blue, 
He  don't  fetch  his  troubles  roun, 

To  pester  me  and  you, 
But  he  totes  right  along, 

With  a  whistle  or  a  song. 
As  though  things  are  right, 

And  nothing's  gone  wrong. 

If  he's  got  the  rheumatism, 
If  he's  got  the  chronic  gout, 

Don't  matter  how  they  pester 

In  church  meeting,  he  can  shout! 


21 


Just  fling  his  legs  like  sixty, 

Throw  his  crutch  and  cane  away, 

And  shout  'long  with  the  fastest 
From  midnight  plum  till  day. 

If  his  burden  gets  so  heavy, 

That  it  bends  him  nigh  mos'  double, 
He  jogs  along  o'  singing 

"Umph,  it's  trouble,  trouble,  trouble !" 
De  good  Lawd's  gwine  to  fetch  us  out 

All  right  bye  and  bye ! 
Keep  er  inchin'  erlong,  keep  er  inchin'  erlong, 

Don't  weep,  don't  moan,  ner  sigh ! 

It  isn't  because  the  Negro 

Doesn't  have  ups  and  downs, 
That  he  doesn't  seem  to  worry 

And  seldom  seems  to  frown. 
For  the  Negro  has  had 

A  pretty  hard  row  of  stumps, 
To  get  up  'bove  the  level 

Of  the  knocks  and  the  bumps ! 

He's  had  a  lot  of  ups  and  downs 

Too  numerous  for  to  mention, 
But  he  has  plodded  right  along, 

A  trying  to  Void  contention. 
In  spite  of  all  the  crooks  and  turns, 

Of  all  the  rough  and  tumble 
Through  devious  ways  he  has  been  raised 

From  depths  most  grim  and  humble ! 

22 


But  there  are  times  some  things  are  done 

Which  go  against  his   grain, 
That  rile  him  up  and  make  him  sore, 

Because  strikes   deep  the  pain; 
But  soon  it  passes  as  the  storm 

And  he  forgets  the  sting, 
With  heart  and  soul  he  tugs  away, 

And  pats  his  foot  and  sings. 

He  has  sung  a  song, 

For  decades  in  this  clime, 
"You  may  have  all  the  world 

Gimme  Jesus  all  the  time." 
Some  people  take  it 

As  a  pretty  good  joke! 
Say  he's  got  all  of  Jesus, 

All  the  "world,"  the  white  folk! 

But  he's  waking  up, 

He's  opened  his  eyes! 
He's  getting  broad, 

He's  getting  wise! 
And  long  since  learned 

That  money  gotten  right, 
To  take  along,  with  Jesus 

For  to  help  him  out  his  plight ! 

So  as  a  final 

To  this  scribble 
I  will  add 

Just  one  more  ripple! 


23 


In  true  language 

I  will  say, 
Now  understand, 

I  don't  gainsay, 

I  am  a  Negro 

Plum  to  the  core ! 
My  Gracious  Master 

I  adore, 
That  He  has  made  me 

What  I  am 
A  true  born  son 

Of  the  race  of  Ham! 


24 


Deys  nuffin'  dat  am  beddah 

Fo'  to  dribe  erway  de  muddles, 
To  git  you  out  de  mire 

An'  to  fotch  you  out  de  puddles, 
Den  to  caper  to  de  music 

Ob  an*  or  banjo, 
When  de  music's  quick  an'  ticklish 

An'  it  'taint  er  bit  slo' ! 

How  it's  plinkertee,  plink! 
An'  it's  plunkertee,  plunk! 
Gits  you  hoppin'  an'  o'  bobbin' 
Till  you  feel  hunkeedunk! 

When  de  day  drags  slo', 

An'  de  hours  solemn  lak 
An'  de  shaddahs  dawk  an'  gloomy, 

Settle  roun'  erbout  yo'  shack, 
An'  de  rain  drizzles  down 

Wid  it's  pitter,  pitter  pattar 
Ef  you  den  can  hyah  de  banjo 

How  you  lonesum  f  eelin'  scattahs ! 

Kaze  it's  plinkertee,  plink! 
An'  it's  plunkertee,  plunk! 
Gits  you  hoppin'  an  o'  bobbin' 
Till  you  feel  hunkeedunk ! 


25 


When  de  banjo  plays  de  ditty, 

"Uncle  Kech,  Sally  Brown" 

An'  de  uddah,  "Stan'  Back  Young  Foks" 

Slute  de  ol'  f  o'ks  come  to  town  ?" 
An'  evahbody's  drappin'  in 

Er  hoppin'  'bout  with  ease, 
An'  you  hyah  de  call  er  coming', 

"Slute  yoh  poddnahs  ef  you  please!" 

How  it's  plinkertee,  plink! 
An'  it's  plunkertee,  plunk! 
Gits  you  hoppin'  an'  o'  bobbin' 
Till  you  feel  hunkeedunk! 


26 


A  Rogirefttelbfe 


Speakin'  bout  hoghead 

Puts  me  in  de  mine, 

Ob  de  time  ah's  mawlin'  rails, 

B'low  de  Mason-Dixon  line. 

One  day  ah  fotchd  er  hoghead,  home, 

When  Mandy  says  to  me, 

Let's  hab  er  hoghead  supper, 

An'  vite  obber,  Eldah  Lee ! 

Ah  said  umph!    Dat's  jimdandy! 

Ah's  got  no  jeckshens  tall! 

Ah  tinks  ahd  lak  to  hab  de  Eldah 

Drap  in  fo'  er  call! 

Ah  bleeb  it's  time  dat  we  should  shov/ 

Our  good  will  toward  de  brudder, 

An'  'sten  an'  inbertayshun,  now, 

Widdout  er  waitin'  f udder! 

So  Mandy  hopped  an'  jumped  erbout 

Er  singin'  an'  er  smilin', 

An'  put  de  pots  and  skillets  on, 

An'  soon  had  tings  er  bilein' ! 

She's  dabblin'  hyah,  she's  dabblin'  dare, 

Er  tarnin'  dis  way  an'  tudder, 

While  de  hoghead  bilein'  in  de  pot 

Kep'  saying',  "spudder !  spudder !" 


27 


We  sent  ah  liT  Rastus  out 

To  tell  de  Eldah  Lee, 

To  fotch  his  wife  an'  family,  obber, 

To  ah  shack  f  o'  tea ! 

We  barely  got  tings  fixed  up  right, 

When  long  comes  Eldah  Lee, 

An'  hopps  into  ah  shanty,  says, 

"We  am  done  come,  you  see! 

Ah  hopes  you  all  will  skewze  us, 

Ef  wees  liT  head  ob  time. 

Ah  spoze  it  makes  no  diffunce, 

An'  you  'sidders  it  no  crime! 

When  Rastus  said  er  hoghead  feas' 

Was  waitin'  fo'  us  all, 

Ah  made  mah  mind  up  ahd  be  hyah, 

Ef  fo'ks,  ah  had  to  crawl! 

Ah  'seeved  yoh  immitation 

Jes'  befo'  de  clock  struck  fow! 

An'  ah  tole  mah  wife  an'  fambly 

Dat  ah  'spec'  weed  beddah  go. 

Ah  knows  yoh  latch  string,  brudder's 

Allus  danglin'  out  fo'  me! 

An'  it  makes  me  feel  ez  tickled 

An'  ez  happy  ez  can  be! 

You  all  since  ah's  been  preechin'  hyah, 
Hab  treated  me  so  nice, 
Dat  ahd  lak  to  be  yoh  preechah 
Twice  ez  long  ez  Eldah  Fice! 


28 


It  seems  to  me  mah  bruddah, 
Dat  ah's  been  hyah  all  mah  life! 
An'  longs  you  feed  us  diss  erway 
We  sho'  won't  hab  no  strife! 

You  know  ah  is  yoh  shepherd 

An'  you  all  am  some  mah  flock! 

So  keep  er  plenty  hoghead,  chickens, 

All  sich  stuff  in  stock! 

You  kno'  de  scripshure  pintly  says, 

'Gawd's  lams  mus'  all  be  fed!' 

So  you  am  carryin'  out  dem  sweet  words 

In  'vitein'  us  to  dis  spread!" 

At  las'  ah  said  "sot  down  you  fo'ks 

Dey  haint  no  use  ob  waitin'!" 

De  eldah  said,  "You're  right  mah  fren, 

'Bout  date  we'll  hab  no  d'batein ! 

Jes'  sot  me  near  dat  hoghead, 

Ef  you  hab  no  superstishen ! 

It  seems  in  diss  ol'  world,  mah  fren, 

Dat  eatin's  mah  special  mission !" 

Umph!  When  he  opened  up  his  mouf, 

Commenced  to  ax  de  bressins, 

'Twas  den  ah  felt  down  in  mah  heart 

Er  feelin'  mos'  distressin'! 

He  said,  "Oh  Lawd,  sich  stuff  ez  diss, 

Am  mannah  fum  on  high! 

'Recpt  mah  tanks  fo'  sich  good  luck, 

Dat  hab  not  passed  me  by! 


29 


"Ah  loves  to  kno'  dat  hyah  below, 
Wees  got  some  milk  an'  honey! 
An'  dat  it  tain't  all  up  erbove, 
Whah  de  streets  am  gold  an'  sunny! 
We  want  some  good  tings  *fo'  we  leave 
Diss  hyah  ol'  worl'  ob  trouble ! 
Tote  some  mo'  hoghead,  chickens  'roun', 
An'  make  ah  pohshen  doubble!" 

He  litt  into  dat  hoghead 

An'  jes'  toh  it  all  to  pieces 

He  put  de  mos'  erpon  his  plate, 

Said,  mah  fren'  ah  now  beseeches, 

You  do  de  waitin'  on  de  res', 

Dat  am  mo'  to  yoh  lackin', 

Ah'll  he'p  mahse'f  an'  eat  right  on, 

An'  keep  some  jokes  er  crackin'! 

Diss  hoghead  goes  right  to  de  spot! 

Ah  kain't  leeb  off  er  secun! 

Ef  you  don't  stop  me,  dog  mah  skins, 

Ah'll  eat  it  all,  ah  reckun! 

Kose  you  don't  mine  dat  ah  presumes, 

Beings  it's  mah  choices'  meat. 

Ah  knows  it  does  you  pow'ful  good 

To  see  yoh  Pawson  eat ! 

He  fotched  all  ob  his  chillun  'long, 
'Bout  sixteen  pickahninnies ! 
Umph !  Mussy  me !  how  dey  did  eat ! 
Dey  stuffed  lak  ducks  and  guineas! 


30 


Dey  licked  dey  chops,  dey 

Licked  de  plates,  dey  licked  dey  fingers,  too! 

De  Eldah  cried,  keep  eatin'  fo'ks 

Lawd  knows  we's  jes'  ha'f  thru! 

Well  then  dey  rizz  up  fo'  to  go, 

Ah  sho'  gawd  felt  lak  shoutin' ! 

De  way  dey  eat,  dey  made  me  mad, 

Ah's  swelled  up  an'  er  poutin'. 

In  fac'  ah's  mad  ernuff  to  fight! 

An'  ef  day'd  kep'  on  eatin', 

Ahd  smacked  dem  chillun  'way  fum  dare, 

An'  gibb  de  paws'n  er  beatin' ! 

Dey  eat  much  ez  er  dozen  dogs, 

Six  hogs  two  mules  besides. 

Ah  wandered  how  dey  ebber  put, 

All  dat  stuff  in  dey  hides. 

Ah  swo'  dat  preechah  and  his  fo'ks, 

Done  eat  dey  las'  wid  me. 

An'  when  dey  filed  out,  said  good  bye, 

Ah  cried,  thank  God  we're  free! 

Well  whut  dey  lef 
Dey  wouldn't  been, 
Ernuff  to  grease  er  nickel! 
De  only  ting,  dey  didn't  tech, 
Was  jes'  one  poh  small  pickle! 
De  nex'  time  dat  ah  has  hoghead, 
You  bet  yoh  coon  skin  jacket, 
Ah'll  'vite  no  body  but  mahse'f, 
Ah  don't  care  who  don't  lack  it ! 


31 


ftdhi  sum  Bttdhra9  m  MA  Sim 


Sich  er  itchin'  in  mah  shins 

Sich  er  ticklin'  in  mah  feet! 
Kaze  de  music  ob  de  ragtime 

Is  so  poody  an'  so  sweet! 
Dey  hain't  nuffn'  dat  am  sweetah 

Fo'  to  make  you  hop  and  jump 
Den  de  music  ob  de  ragtime 

When  it's  comin'  thumppee-te-thump ! 

Sich  er  bobbin'  up  an'  down! 

Sich  er  swingin'  to  an'  fro' 
Cullahd  fo'ks  is  mighty  happy 

When  dey's  makin'  sich  er  sho'! 
Dey's  'bout  ez  nigh  heaven 

Ez  dey  ebbah  wants  to  be. 
Den  it's  "Go  day,  God  send  Sunday, 

Ebbah  day  is  juberlee!" 

Dat's  de  cullahd  fo'kses  music! 

White  fo'ks  go  way,  leeb  it  lone! 
You  hain't  got  er  bit  ob  business 

Techin'  not  er  single  tone. 
You  jes'  go  'long  wid  yoh  music 

Dat  you  calls  de  "klassahkal," 
While  we  bundles  up  ah  "rag  time" 

An'  goes  "Gittin'  Over  Sal!" 

Why  dat  music,  go  way  honey, 
Makes  you  feel  jes'  lack  you  fly  in'! 

32 


Lack  you  bobbin'  up  to  glory 

Wid  er  feelin'  satisfyin'! 
An'  you  doesn't  care  er  particle 

Wheddah  you  ebbah  stop  er  tall ! 
Jes'  so  longs  you  keeps  er  gwine, 

An'  you  doesn't  slip  er  fall! 

Why  de  music  ob  de  rag  time's 

Got  er  happy-go-lucky  snap! 
Dat  jes'  drags  you  out  yoh  dozes, 

An'  jes'  pulls  you  out  yoh  nap! 
An'  de  wise  jes'  lack  de  foolish 

Bofe  will  kick  an'  squerm  'eroun,' 
When  er  fiddle,  band  er  banjo 

Monkeys  wid  its  raggitty  soun'. 

Kose  you  sometimes  may  ax  scanlous, 

Give  yoh  feelins  sich  er  slack 
Dat  de  folks  er  lookin'  at  you, 

Tink  yoh  mind  is  jumped  de  track! 
But  ez  long  ez  you  is  tickled 

You  don't  mine  it  you  don't  kyeer, 
Kaze  it  he'ps  you  'long  wid  trouble 

Fills  yoh  heart  plum  full  ob  cheer! 

Dat's  de  reason  dat  de  rag  time 

Puts  fo'ks  in  er  jolly  vain, 
Kaze  its  got  de  snap  an'  ginger 

Dat  is  simple  sweet  an',  plain! 
It  tain't  stuck  up  lack  dat  music 

Wid  er  highkerflootin'  tone, 
But  it  keeps  down  wid  de  plain  fo'ks 

So  dey  understan'  it's  moan. 


33 


Summah 


Wintah's  gone! 

Summah's  come! 
Feel's  lack  waltzin', 

Dancin',  some! 
White  fo'ks,  black  fo'ks, 

Ol'  an'  glum, 
Is  tickled  lack  de  mischief 

When  Summah's  come! 

Blue  bird  singin' 

Lack  de  cullahd  fo'ks! 
Jay  bird  talkin' 

Lack  he's  tellin'  jokes ! 
Woodpeckah  drummin' 

Lack  er  deacon  wid  his  cane, 
Dat's  er  rappin'  fo'  de  liniment 

To  rub  erway  his  pain. 

Whut's  dat  de  bull  frog's 

Sayin'  in  de  swamp  ? 
Cullahd  fo'ks  it's  time 

Fo'  to  play,  an'  to  romp! 
De  goose  hang's  high 

An'  de  melon's  'bout  due! 
Whut's  de  use  o'  workin' 

When  you  don't  ha'f  to! 


34 


Fox  an'  de  groun'  hog, 

Tip  toein'  'roun', 
Lack  dey's  KT  bit  skyeerd 

Dey'll  meet  mistah  hound. 
Dey  hain't  no  tellin' 

Whut  de  hound  might  do 
Ef  dey  meet  him  ah's  er  tinkin' 

T'would  be  cockle-doodle-doo ! 

De  day's  so  fine 

An'  de  season's  done  come, 
Ah  tinks  it's  'bout  time 

To  do  er  li'l  fishin'  some! 
When  de  sun  shines  on 

Bofe  sides  ob  de  street, 
Bass  an'  suckahs 

Am  bitein'  poordy  sweet! 

Wintah's  gone! 

Summah's  come! 
Feels  lack  waltzin', 

Dancin',  some! 
White  fo'ks,  black  fo'ks, 

Ol',  an'  glum, 
Is  tickled  lack  de  mischief 

When  summah's  come! 


35 


Ye  sons  of  Adam's  mighty  race, 

Unfettered  by  God's  munificent  grace, 

Have  ye  forgot  that  noble  sire, 

Who  filled  with  patriotic  fire, 

Struck  first  the  blow  for  freedom's  cause 

To  abbrogate  the  tyrant's  laws? 

If  such  there  be  let  him  be  shunned, 

By  every  loyal  patriot  son! 

He  is  not  fit  for  freedom's  clan, 

Who  forgets  the  deeds  of  such  a  man ! 

Heaven  hath  decreed  through  Adam's  fall, 
Each  race  for  a  spell  must  bear  the  thrall. 
Through  blood  and  tears  it  must  be  freed, 
By  brave  magnanimous,  generous  deeds. 
Hear  ye!  the  cry  from  thralldom's  plain, 
"Arise  ye  slaves,  shake  off  thy  chains !" 
While  tyrants  tremble,  cringe  and  groan, 
Dismayed  they  totter  on  their  thrones! 
Against  tyranny,  that  great  revolt, 
Rushed  like  the  mighty  thunder  bolts, 
And  like  a  Vesuvius  in  eruptive  state, 
It  left  the  foe  most  desolate! 

Liberty,  the  invigorating  elixir  sweet ! 
Descended  from  heav'n's  mercy  seat, 
The  boon  for  which  all  mankind  thrives, 
Bought  by  the  blood  of  countless  lives, 

36 


Inspired  that  act  which  broke  the  spell, 
For  which  brave  Crispus  Attucks,  fell. 

Well  didst  he.  strike !   This  martyr  brave, 
Couldst  he  but  rise  up  from  his  grave 
Behold  his  country  disenthralled, 
In  majesty  and  sweet  content 
'Mitl  scenes  most  glorious,  eloquent, 
Filled  with  an  unctuous  holy  joy 
To  sweeter  dreams  he  could  lie  down, 
Through  evening  shades  pass  to  yon  shore 
Receive  the  well  earned  martyr's  crown. 

Who  was  this  man  whose  deeds  we  trace  ? 
He  was  of  Ethiopia's  race, 
Whose  sons  have  suffered,  bled  and  died, 
To  help  make  this  land  unified! 

Ye  sons  of  Ethiopia's  race, 

Arise  witn  dignity  and  grace ! 

Since  from  beneath  the  chastening  rod 

Ye  have  been  raised  by  mighty  God, 

Heaven  expects  thee  to  help  rear, 

The  mighty  structure  building  here! 

His  body  sleeps  beneath  the  sod, 
O'er  which  no  tyrants  cohorts  trod. 
Though  dead,  yet  he  is  more  alive 
Than  when  on  earth  he  did  here  strive. 
The  blow  he  struck  for  freedom's  band, 
Still  goes  resounding  through  the  land. 
To  those  unborn  it  shall  proclaim 
"Liberty  for  all"  in  Heaven's  name. 


37 


His  deeds  shall  shine  like  that  great  light 
Which  bursts  from  Pisga's  lofty  height. 
The  encircling  gloom  cannot  obscure 
Its  light  that  shines  for  ever  more. 

So  let  His  deeds  pour  souls  inspire! 
Filled  with  a  patriotic  fire, 
First,  last  and  always,  ever  be, 
A  negro !  Proud  of  your  ancestry ! 

Liberty  enthroned  the  great  jubilate 

Is  sung  by  the  Angels  as  they  congregate, 

Around  the  portals  of  the  Lord 

And  strike  their  harps  with  one  accord! 

Write  with  a  vigor,  with  a  fire, 
The  name  of  this  redoubtable  sire! 
Upon  the  page  ascribed  to  those, 
Who  died  to  lift  a  nation's  woes ! 


38 


Ah  comes  from  ol'  Virginnee, 

De  bes'  state  in  de  lanM 

Whah  fo'ks  hain't  skyahd  to  meet  you, 

Hain't  erf  raid  to  shake  yo'  han'. 

Dey's  jes'  plain  an'  or  fashion, 

Dey  don't  put  on  no  airs, 

Wid  fo'k's  dat  do,  you  bet  yo'  life 

Dey's  got  no  time  to  spare. 

Why  down  in  ol'  Virginnee, 

Why,  it's  "come  in !  howdee-you-doo !" 

Hab  er  bite  ob  sumpun,   fo'  yo'   journey  you 

pursue ! 

Jes'  stay  long  ez  you  mine  to, 
You  neen't  pay  er  cent! 
Jes'  make  yo'se'f  one  ob  us 
An'  we  all,  will  feel  content! 
An'  feed  yo'  ?  lawd  er  massy  chile ! 
Dey  don't  konw  when  to  stop! 
It's  hab  some  mo,  dat  hog  head,  brudder, 
Hab  er  nudder  chop! 
Den  fus'ting  yo'll  hyah  ol'  uncle,  say, 
Chile,  is  you  skyahd  to  eat? 
Ef  you  don't  eat  up  all  ah  pass, 
You'll  i'sult  ol'  Uncle  Pete! 

Den  nex'  hyah  comes  ol'  granny 
39 


Wid  some  egg  pone  jes'  lak  gol' ! 
Some  mustard  greens  wid  bacon 
An'  some  good  ol'  fat  hog  jowl! 
An'  by  de  time  she's  fotchd  yo' 
Plenty  chicken,  plenty  gobbler, 
Bejinks  yo'  hain't  got  room  ernuf 
To  stuff  down  apple  cobbler. 
Poordy  soon  yo'll  see  ol'  granny, 
Sof  ly  steal  out  in  de  kitchen, 
Tain't  long  fo'  she's  totein'  back, 
Jes'  er  rahin'  back  jes'  er  switchin'. 
Den  ol'  uncle  ejacerlates, 
"Sho'  ez  ah's  born  to  die" ! 
Sookeeryah,  Looey  Jane, 
Whah  am  mah  Rock  an'  Rye?" 

Den  granny  kinder  teasin'  lak 

Pokes  out  er  dimmejohn. 

An'  uncle  clahs  his  tho'at  dat  sounds 

Bout  lak  er  cracked  fox  horn. 

An'  says,  "dis  takes  all  de  kinks 

Out  de  back! 

So  pass  yo  goards 

An'  hab  jes'  er  smack"! 

It's  good  f  o'  de  rich, 

It's  good  fo'  de  po'! 

Go  back  in  de  kitchen  Lizea 

Fetch  us  all  some  mo'. 

Dat's  de  way  dem  fo'kses  treat  yo', 
Dey  want  to  see  yo'  joy  yo'se'f ! 
Eat  an'  drink  jes'  all  yo'  mine  to 
Long  ez  anyting  is  lef. 

40 


Yo'  bet  dey's  allus  got  er  barrel  ob 
Grub  eroun'  de  shanty! 
Summer,  winter,  spring  er  fall, 
You  nebber  find  it  scanty 
You  go  to  church,  to  Sunday  meetm', 
Ebbry  body  wants  to  meet  yo' ! 
Dey  don't  wait  fo'  yo'  to  speak  fus' 
But  dey  tote  right  up  an'  greet  yo' ! 
Dey  don't  stan'  off  er  lookin'  lak 
Yo'  was  some  alligator, 
Erfraid  to  git  up  close  to  yo', 
Lak  yo's  er  spile  pertater. 

Yo'll  find  dem  zackly  lak  ah  tells  yo' 

Ez  ol'  fashion  ez  de  dickens ! 

Don't  kyah  ef  yo's  poh  ez  snakes, 

Er  rich  ez  Peter  Diggens! 

It  hain't  yo'  clothes  de's  lookin'  at, 

Ner  at  yo'  eddeerkayshen. 

But  good  hoss  sense  an'  propah  ways 

Whut  wins  dey  admiration! 

Ahs  been  up  hyah  in  dis  hyah  state, 

Ahspec'  poord  nah  f  ow  years  er  so. 

Deez  fo'kses  to  git  quainted  wid, 

Dey  sho'  Gawd  knows  am  mos'  powful  slo' 

Ah  kaint  git  use  to  dem  at  tall, 

Dey  ac's  too  ristercratic  fo'  me. 

Ahd  rudder  be  bodderd  wid  yaller  jackets 

Er  stung  in  de  ankle 

Wid  er  bumble  bee! 

Dat's  why  yo'  dadd  an'  me's  sich  pallies. 

Kaze  de  fus'  time  dat  ah  struck  diss  town, 

41 


Er  stranger,  he  walked  up  to  me, 

Says'  howd  doo  brudder  which  way's  yo's  bound  ? 

Why  he  jes'  made  me  feel  right  dah 
We'd  bofe  been  'quainted  forty  yeahs. 
It  did  mah  ol'  heart  so  much  good, 
Ah  mus'  hab  drapped  some  joyful  tears! 
Ah  knowed  right  dah,  yo'  daddy's 
Some  de  ol'  Virginnee  stock! 
When  he  frowed  his  mouf  wide  open, 
An*  he  den  commenced  to  talk. 
Zackly  lak  dem  fo'ks  down  yonder, 
It  was,  "come  go  home  wid  me! 
We'll  fill  up  de  pots  an'  skillets 
Fill  yo'  up  till  yo'  kain't  see! 

Ef  dey  all  was  lak  yo'  daddy, 
Wid  er  smile  an'  f renly  han', 
Dog  mah  cats,  an'  string  terbaccer ! 
Ah  don't  bleeb  ahd  leeb  diss  Ian'. 
Kaze  he's  jes'  de  sort  o'  pusson 
Dat  can  make  yo'  feel  at  home, 
Till  yo'  feel  jes'  lak  er  settlin'  down, 
Wid  feelin's  not  to  roam! 


42 


Sing  dat  song  once  mo',  Miss  Mandy, 
Jes'  once  mo',  jes'  ef  yo'  please! 
Sounds  ez  sweet  ez  angel  whispers, 
An'  de  song  birds  'mong  de  trees, 
It  kyahs  ma  back!  way  back  yonder, 
Way  down  Souf! 

Whah  we  tromped  thoo'  de  cotton  fields, 
An'  when  ah  hearts  was  sad, 

We  sing'd  dat  chune 
Fo'  to  make  ah  souls  glad, 
Way  down  Souf! 

Yo'  know  nuffin'  'bout  dem  days,  Miss,  Mandy, 
Dat  was  befo'  yo'  time! 
'Sides  yo's  been  r'ared 

In  er  diffun'  clime! 

Yo'  nebbah  had  to  wock  fum  de  fus*  horn  bio* 
Lake  we  uster  had  to  wock 
Till  de  sun  sink'd  low, 

Way  down  Souf! 

But  we  had  good  times,  Miss  Mandy, 
Sum  good  ol'  times  fo'  sho'! 
But  ol'  Missy  an'  ol'  Massa, 
We  diden'  let  'em  know. 
Yo'  bet  we's  mighty  kyahful 
When  we  had  ah  dance  an'  feas', 
Dat  ol'  Missy  an'  ol'  Massa 
Didn't  git  an  inklin'  in  de  leas' ! 

When  Ah  hyah  dat  chune,  Miss  Mandy, 
Ah  wants  to  step  erbout, 
An'  do  jes'  lak  de  ol'  fo'ks, 
Ez  dey  uster  sing  an'  shout, 
Way  down  Souf! 

43 


I  kin  see  dem  now! 

Ez  dey  raised  dey  voice  to  sing, 

An'  sot  de  ol'  big  cabin 

In  one  great  big  ring! 

Way  down  Souf ! 

But  dem  days  done  gone,  Miss  Mandy 
Dey's  gone  lak  er  dream. 
An'  de  ol'  fo'ks, 
Done  crossed  de  stream! 
But  doh  dey's  gone, 
An'  ah's  lef  erlone, 
An'  ol'  age  creeped 
In  mah  ebbry  bone, 
Dey's  a  hankerin'  f eelin' ! 
Keeps  er  dribein'  me  back, 
Way  down  Souf ! 

When  er  dahky  is  ol' 
An'  his  step  comes  slo', 
An'  he  totters  lak  er  reed, 
When  de  sof  winds  blow, 
An'  all  his  ties  ob  erf  am  dead, 
An'  fo'ks  all  strange 
Whah  ebber  he  tread, 
It's  de  olj  time  chune, 
Wid  er  clah'  keen  knack! 
Dat  makes  yo'  feel  new. 
'Peahs  yo'  youth  come  back, 
Way  down  Souf! 


44 


Whan  die  Fnalhi  Am  Kimdlliinip  H©ft 


When  de  sno'  it  am  er  fallin', 

Winds  er  whizzin'  down  de  lanes, 
An'  de  fros'  it  am  freezin' 

Fo'  yo'  eyes  erpun  de  panes, 
Whut  am  beddah  den  er  neslin' 

'Roun'  er  fiah  dat's  roas'in'  hot? 
Fo'  er  pickahninny  dahky 

Hain't  er  mo'  enchantin'  spot. 

When  de  breezes  am  er  moanin' 

An'  de  sun  am  sinkin'  lo', 
An'  de  gloomy  clouds  an'  shaddahs 

Geddah  'roun'  erbout  yo'  do' ; 
When  yo'  hyeah  de  co'n  er  poppin', 

See  de  cidah  all  er  foam, 
In  yo'  soul  de  joy  an'  gladness 

Seems  eroun'  erbout  to  roam. 

An'  yo  granny  am  er  hummin', 
Cat  er  purrin'  on  de  rug, 
An'  yo'  git  er  sniff  de  burbun 

Dat  am  steamin'  fum  de  jug — 
Umph!  de  berry  'maggahnayshun 

Makes  er  puson  think  it's  real. 
It  am  glory!     Hesh  yo'  mouf  sah, 

Doan'  yo'  ax  me  how  yo'  feel. 


45 


All  yo'  troubles  an'  yo'  burdens 

Seems  to  take  de  swif'es  flight! 
Tears  yo'  berry  soul  am  lif 'ed 

To  de  blissful  mountain  heights ! 
Whah  de  lan's  erflo'  wid  honey, 

Streets  an'  alleys  paved  wid  gol', 
An'  de  simphonnies  o'  heaben's 

Got  er  sweetnes'  kaint  be  tol'. 

Yo'  kin  sing  de  song  o'  Moses, 

Shout  yo'se'f  clah  to  de  sky! 
Pickahninny's  den  in  cloveah, 

No  time  den  to  weep  an'  sigh. 
Let  de  sno'  keep  on  er  fallin', 

Let  de  breezes  whizz  an'  moan, 
Longs'  er  pickahninny's  neslin' 

'Roun  er  hot  fiah  ub  his  own. 


46 


When  de  shadows  ub  de  e'ebnin's 

Gently,  sof'ly  fallin'  'roun', 
'Cross  de  lonely  field  an*  meadows, 

Cums  de  cattle's  lowin'  soun'; 
An*  de  vespah  bells  am  ringin' 

An'  dey  blen'  in  tuneful  lay, 
It's  a  knell  dat's  sad  an'  mournful 

To  de  dying  summah  day. 

An'  yo'  weary  fum  de  labah 

Ub  de  tillin'  ub  de  soil, 
Fum  sun  up  'till  time  ub  sinkin' 

Wif out  res'  mus'  toil  an'  toil ; 
How  yo'  welcum  on  de  hours, 

Blissful  seezuns  all  ub  res' 
When  a  neslin'  'neef  de  kibbahs, 

Yo'  kin  soff'en  pillahs  press. 

When  de  HT  lights  ub  hebun 

Fum  behine  day  kibbah  peep, 
All  er  blinkin'  an'  er  twinklin' 

Ez  dey  'cross  de  hebuns  creep ; 
Dah's  a  sadden  feelin'  takes  yo', 

Ez  yo'  lonely  sot  an'  sigh, 
Ez  yohr  mem'ry  goze  to  'fleck'in 

Ub  de  olen  days  gone  by. 


47 


How  yohr  ole  home  cums  befo'  yo' 

Wif  de  fiah-place  all  erf'ame, 
Ez  it  kindled  an'  enliven'd 

Yo'  into  a  joyful  frame ; 
An'  de  scene  at  night  when  gaddahd 

All  eroun'  yohr  mammy  sot, 
Ez  she  tole  yo'  little  stohries, 

Allus  chahms  de  little  tot. 


Seemz  yo'  hyeah  de  old  fo'ks  singin', 

An'  dey  voices  ringin'  clah, 
Ez  at  night  all  knelt  togeddah 

Fo'  to  ax  de  mahstah's  kyah, 
To  puzzurb  dem  fum  de  ebil 

Spirits  lurkin'  far  an'  neer; 
Keep  dey  minds  all  free  fum  feelin's 

Soopahstishun  an'  fum  feer. 


How  yo'  long  yo's  wif  de  dahkies 

Once  mo'  geddahd  in  de  field, 
When  at  night  all  in  de  moonlight, 

Danced  de  ole  Virginny  reel ; 
To  de  plumpin'  ub  de  banjos 

An'  de  fiddle's  sawin'  choon, 
An'  de  songs  dat  wuz  trumphun' 

To  de  ole  plantayshun  coon. 

48 


How  yo'  wish'd  to  'gain  libb  obah 

Dem  days  at  yo'  ole  home  spot, 
Wif  yo'  frens  dat's  cross'd  de  ribbah, 

Wuz  again  yo'  happy  lot; 
But  dem  days  hab  gone  fohebbah, 

Nebah  mo'  will  dey  return, 
When  yo'  sot  an'  'fleck  erbout  'em, 

How  yo'  ole  heart  fo'  dem  yern. 


49 


Inn   Memornam 

To  THE  LATE  PAUL  L.  DUN  BAR 

God  from  His  mighty  throne  looked  down, 
And  plucked  him  as  the  blushing  flower ; 

Solemn  as  death,  grieveous  and  awed, 
Was  made  a  grateful  race  that  hour. 

This  is  a  debt  we  all  must  pay — 

The  rich,  the  high,  the  low — 
The  exit  from  this  world  to  that 

Of  happiness  or  woe. 

'Tis  for  the  soul  of  spotless  white, 

Cleansed  pure  as  Heaven's  holy  spheres, 

To  walk  the  streets  beyond  the  void 
Bereft  of  sighs,  bereft  of  tears. 

Brilliance  of  mind  beyond  discount, 
The  birthright  of  this  noble  son, 

Forged  verse  which  moved  the  hearts  of  men, 
And  brought  him  laurels  truly  won. 

Deeds  of  potency  and  power 

Wrought  he  'mid  clouds  of  dire  dispair, 
Upon  successes  sun  kissed  heights 

He  found  at  last  a  welcome  there. 

Verse  flowed  as  magic  from  his  pen, 
Encouching  sweet  and  beauteous  thought, 

Of  negro  life  before  the  days 
When  struggling  men  for  freedom  fought. 

50 


As  long  as  history  endures 

He  there  shall  find  abiding  place ; 
Plaudits  and  honor  e'er  for  him — 

The  greatest  poet  of  his  race. 

Not  in  monumental  stone, 

Not  in  history  alone, 
But  in  our  loving,  grateful  hearts, 

He  there  shall  live — shall  find  a  throne. 

Bury  him  in  a  hallowed  spot, 

Where  devastation  cometh  not, 
In  a  picturesque  vale  where  nature  in  sublimity 

Stands  out  in  wondrous  bold  relief, 
The  enshinement  of  him 

Whose  life  was  brief. 


51 


We  gaze  upon  the  shining  orbs 

That  guild  the  depthless  welkin  dome, 

Survey  that  grand  etheral  space  where  countless 

hosts  angelic  roam, 
Where  symphonies,  rythmical  songs, 
The  chants,  the  lays,  beyond  compare, 
And  ask  in  wonder  what  is  man's  fate  ? 
Has  he  blissful  future  state? 

.          'T 

Creations  of  the  Divine  hand 
Tell  us  above  all  worlds  doth  tow'r 
The  King  of  Kings  with  sovereign  pow'r, 
Where  e'er  He  wills  dispersing  night, 
Guiding  the  worlds  in  their  swift  flight. 

Ay,  man  reads  in  the  rocks,  the  hills,  each  blade 

of  grass, 
The  flower,  the  murmuring    stream,    the    truth 

personified — 
"Futurity"    for   they    the    just,    the    pure,    the 

glorified. 

Thus  man  lives  on  and  on, 
Prophetic  of  the  robe,  the  crown, 
Sublimities  which  have  no  bound, 
The  Jasper  walls,  the  Heavenly  throne, 
The  universe's  foundation  stone. 


52 


Soft  falls  the  night—- 
And chases  'way 

The  slowly  dying 
Summer  day; 

The  sun  from  his 
Ethereal  height 

Is  curtained 

By  the  shades  of  night. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  birds  that  tune 
Their   songs  to  nature 

In  commune, 
Now  hush  their  lays, 

Seek  silent  rest 
Within  their  downy, 

Leafy  nests. 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  starry  hosts 
Creep  'cross  the  dome 

Like  silent  ghosts; 
And  on  and 

Like  sheep  they  stray — 
Within  their  wake 

Cast  silvery  rays. 

53 


Soft  falls  the  night— 

A  peaceful  sleep 
O'er  earthly  mortals 

Doth  now  creep; 
They  rest  now  from 

Their  day's  pursuit, 
The  world  is  still! 

The  world  is  mute! 

Soft  falls  the  night— 

The  verdure  green 
Now  glistens  with 

A  dewy  sheen; 
The  flowers  droop, 

Their  petals  close, 
They  dream  away 

In  sweet  repose. 
Soft  fades  the  night — 

Lo!  breaks  the  dawn! 
And  Nature  'wakens 

With  the  morn; 
Exultingly  sends  up 

Her  lays, 
Her  symphonies 

To  God  in  praise. 


54 


PS3SIS 


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B 


B 


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BHB 


